Bath-PUVA therapy in three patients with scleredema adultorum.

BACKGROUND: Scleredema adultorum (SA) is a rare connective tissue disorder for which no treatment has proven to be effective. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the effect of bath-PUVA therapy on SA. METHODS: Three patients were treated. Clinical evaluation of skin induration and thickness as well as ultrasonography were performed at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS: All three patients showed substantial clinical improvement with bath-PUVA therapy (median of 59 treatments and a cumulative UVA dose of 245.7 J/cm2). Ultrasonography showed significant reduction in both skin thickness and density. CONCLUSION: Bath-PUVA therapy appears to be effective in the treatment of SA.